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CHNI Forums > Moral and Social Teaching > Faith and Works > New Catholics finding good works to do


New Catholics finding good works to do
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Credo Catholic
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 Posted: Sun May 13th, 2007 01:52 am

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I am a fairly new Catholic, I joined at Easter Vigil last year.  I was wondering how some of you went about finding your "niche" in your church's good works programs.  I feel drawn to prayer and am on the prayer chain, and I have spent some Saturday mornings helping at the Soup Kitchen.  I have thought about starting a regular time to take our prayer request list to the church and pray before the blessed sacrament, and also go to the hospital chapel and pray for the Catholics who are admitted.  Would this be considered an apostolate?  Would I need to clear it with the pastor first?


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CajunRick
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 Posted: Sun May 13th, 2007 02:26 am

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Credo Catholic wrote: Would this be considered an apostolate?

Yes.

Would I need to clear it with the pastor first?
If it's something you want to do personally, no.  If it's an apostolate you would like to start so that others can pray with you, yes, especially to help you publicize it through the parish bulletin or announcements.

Also, in praying for those in the hospital, HIPPA (federal law in the U.S.) prevents the hospital from telling anyone who is admitted or their religious faith.  If you want to know the names of those admitted so that you can visit them, pray with them, or bring them the Eucharist, you will have to get names from the parish rectory.  It would also help to coordinate with the Ministry to the Sick.  If you do not wish to visit the sick, it might be better to pray in your own parish church as the Eucharist is more likely to be present.



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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine

Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane

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Credo Catholic
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 Posted: Sun May 13th, 2007 10:05 am

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cajunrick wrote:
Also, in praying for those in the hospital, HIPPA (federal law in the U.S.) prevents the hospital from telling anyone who is admitted or their religious faith.  If you want to know the names of those admitted so that you can visit them, pray with them, or bring them the Eucharist, you will have to get names from the parish rectory.  It would also help to coordinate with the Ministry to the Sick.  If you do not wish to visit the sick, it might be better to pray in your own parish church as the Eucharist is more likely to be present.

I was approached about becoming a Eucharistic minister to deliver communion to patients in the hospital, and I shadowed a few times to see how it was done, but I'm not quite comfortable doing it myself yet.  I was given a pyx(?) and a bag of small plastic rosaries to hand out to patients who would like to have them.  But I felt a strong inclination to go downstairs and pray in the chapel for them!  I don't mind just visiting the patients, in fact I'd like to visit a moment and give them some encouragement, but I thought the prayer would be most helpful.  The hospital staff may not want extra people on the halls!  You're right, praying in the church before the Eucharist would be the best place and least distracting.


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Ali
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 Posted: Mon May 14th, 2007 08:49 am

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IME, which is rather short :P  The CCD/religious ed director always needs help.  And it's summer, so vacation Bible school is coming up.  See if your parrish needs any help with either of those things.  If you can stand littles, that is, lol.  Not everyone is cut out to hear how a child's dog ate all their Easter chocolate, the pooped everywhere.  Not only that, but the poop had worms in it, so we got visuals from said child as well ;)  Good times, I'm tellin' ya!

My dd and I also work at a soup kitchen once a week.  We both find it enjoyable.

Ali


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Credo Catholic
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 Posted: Mon May 14th, 2007 01:27 pm

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I'd love to work with the children in Vacation Bible School but I'll be sixty next month and don't know if I have what it takes physically to keep up with them!  I could help by serving their refreshments or doing something s-l-o-w paced.  My own grandchildren keep me in stitches when we visit.  I never know what they'll say - they have no inhibitions - I can be repulsed and disolving in laughter at the same time. 


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CajunRick
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 Posted: Mon May 14th, 2007 04:31 pm

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Credo Catholic wrote: I'd love to work with the children in Vacation Bible School but I'll be sixty next month and don't know if I have what it takes physically to keep up with them!
My parish uses face painters, VCR/DVD operators, music instructors (basic hand movements), and all sorts of things including people serving refreshments.  There's room for everyone.



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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine

Rick Luquette
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Ali
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 Posted: Mon May 14th, 2007 05:28 pm

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Credo Catholic wrote: I'd love to work with the children in Vacation Bible School but I'll be sixty next month and don't know if I have what it takes physically to keep up with them!  I could help by serving their refreshments or doing something s-l-o-w paced.  My own grandchildren keep me in stitches when we visit.  I never know what they'll say - they have no inhibitions - I can be repulsed and disolving in laughter at the same time. 


Oh, definately look into it!  Like Rick said, someone is needed everywhere.  Our VBS does "stations".  Music station, Bible lesson station, outdoor activity station, snacks, crafts, etc.  The groups are led by an like a 7th or 8th grader, and then an adult is in charge of each thing.  I  was activities last year, I so hope I get snacks this year!  LOL  Anyway, I bet the leader can find something for you to help with.  They even needed someone to volunteer to watch little little ones while the parents helped out with other stuff. 

Something for everyone :)

Ali


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